WILMINGTON- The Twin Valley girl’s softball team scored a combined 73 runs in their first three games on three straight nights to begin the season with a 3-0 record.

The Wildcats traveled to Long Trail School on Monday for a match with the Lynx that turned into a war of walks. Long Trail walked 30 batters during the match to Twin Valley’s 20. Jordan Niles got the win on the mound for the Wildcats combining with Christina Moore to allow 16 runs. But the Wildcat offense was there to back them up, scoring 31 runs.

Visiting Arlington on Tuesday, the Wildcats pumped out double-digit runs again, scoring 21 runs. Colton Butler had a monster game, hitting for the cycle, going 5-5, and driving in six runs. Moore got the win, throwing strikes all match, backed up by stellar play by an infield that includes Jessica Fox, who turned four double plays on the game. Veronika Vernon also went 2-3 with five RBIs.

Against Mount St. Joseph Academy, Twin Valley scored 22 runs, with Moore putting on a show from behind the plate, driving in eight RBIs and coming within four feet of a home run. It was a complete team effort, as the Wildcat outfield of Moore, Lexi Reinertson, and Skylar Pronovost came up with big catches all game to keep the Green Wave from rallying. Butler got the start for Twin Valley, with Abby Putnam getting the win in late relief. Butler helped the defense by going 2-4 and driving in two runs.

After three games the Wildcats have been able to address their number-one concern going into the season, depth in their pitching staff. While the Wildcat pitchers have given up an average of just over 12 runs per game, they have an offense that can compensate.

Before the season began coach Aaron Wood had said he believed that if his pitchers could throw strikes, his girls could compete at the state level. Offensively, they have proved it, and allowing only five runs at Arlington shows that they can get it done on the field, too.

“We need to play slightly better defense” said Wood. “ We could run the bases a little better, but if we throw strikes, it’s the name of the game. As far as offense goes, we’re as good at this game as anyone.”

Over the last three days, Butler has led the Wildcats offensively, going 9-12 with 13 RBIs and six steals. Abby Putnam is 7-12 from the plate. Wood also said his freshman catcher Kaylea Niles has done a great job both catching and watching baserunners, even gunning down one who tried to steal third.

“The way we hit the ball was an offensive juggernaut,” said Wood. “We will have no problem scoring, we just need to keep other teams off the board and play good defense to back up our pitchers.”